Suction cleaner



.June 24, 1941. D Q SMELLlE 2,246,863

sUCTIoN CLEANER l' Filed Dec. 1o, 1937 i 4 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR onald61 Sm ellze ATTORNEY III June 24, 1941. D- Q SME-LME 2,246,863

SUCT ION CLEANER Filed Dec. 1o, 1957 4 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR olzd 6'.Smellie ATTORNEY June 24, 1941. D. s. vSMELLIE SUCTION CLEANER FiledDec. 10, 1937 4 SheetS-Sheet 3 L IM .l E. Eri! 2. n 1Ilw| om l mN m. i uw. W W l.. fm.

INVE NTO R onald G. Smellz'e ATTORNEY D. G. SMELLIE 2,246,863

SUCTION CLEANER Filed Dec. 10, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Y `une 24, 1941.

INVENTO 6I .Smellz'e ATTORNEY Patented June 24, 194i Donald G. Smellie,Canton, Ohio, assignor to Th Hoover Company, North Canton, Ohio, acorporation of Ohio Application December 10, 1937, Serial No. 179,096

18 claims.

"A The present invention relates to suction cleaners in general andparticularly to a suction cleaner provided with new and improvedelectrical connections. More specically the invenl tion comprises a newand novel cleaner structure embodying a conductor cord take-up. It is anobject of ythe present invention to provide a new and improved suctioncleaner. It is another object of the invention to provide a suctioncleaner embodying improved electrical connections. Still another objectis to provide. a suction cleaner with an automatic cord take-up. A stillfurther objectof the invention is to provide a suction cleaner in whichthe conductor cord take-up is carried by the body proper of the cleaner.Still another object of the invention is to provide a suction cleaner inwhich manually operable means controlled by the operator causeA theelectric conductor to be wound vupon a reel concentric with the axis ofthe driving motor. These and other more-specii'lc objects will appearuponv reading the following specication and claims and upon consideringin connection therewith thev attached drawings to which they relate.Referring nowA to the drawings in which pre-` ferred embodiments of thepresent invention are disclosed:

Figure 1 is a side view of a suction cleaner embodying the presentinvention;

Figure 2 is a partial section upon the line 2-2 in Figure 1 and showsthe manually operable control means for the cord take-up;

Figure 3 is a transverse section through the cleaner body upon the line3-3 of Figure 1, and

. discloses the relationship of the driving motor,

the suction-creating fan and fan chamber, and the cord take-up; l

Figure 4 is a partial section upon the line B-4 of Figure 3 and showsthe actuating spring of the cord take-up;

Figure 5 is a sigieelevation of the cleaner embodying the presentinvention, a partial section being shown through the cleaner body uponthe line 5-5 of Figure 3 which shows the contact rings carried by therotatable cord take-up;

Figure 6 is a section'upon the line 6`6 of Figure 3 and shows the wipercontacts which cooperate with the contact rings illustrated in Figure 5;

Figure 'I isa section through the cleaner handle and shows the cordinlet slot, being taken upon the line 1-1 of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a. section similar to Figure 3 and shows a second preferredembodiment of the invention;

Figure 9 is a. top view of a cleaner constructed in accordance with thesecond embodiment with part of the top of the cleaner casing broken awayto show the position of the cord take-up therein; i

Figure 10 is a partial section upon the line Ill-I0 of Figure 9;

`Figure 11 is a diagrammatic illustration of the electricalcircuitcommon to both embodiments .of the invention.

Suction cleaners are generally unprovided with means `to accommodate theelongated conductor i' cord-necessary to connectthe cleaner to a sourceof current other than simple winding posts upon 'the handle on -whichthe cord can be wrapped.

In. a few'cleaners cord take-ups have been embodied in thefhandlestructure. Such take-ups, either hand operated or lmotor operated, havebeen objectionable'in that their weight has been excessive and, throughbeing positioned on the handle, that weight has been transmitted to `theoperator who holds the upper end thereof.

`I the limproved cleaner constructed in accordance with the presentinvention the objectionable features of the earlier prior art structureshave been eliminated through the incorporation of the cord take-up 'intothe body proper,` of the cleaner. The cleaner constructed in ac`cordance with the present invention combines an improved cleanerconstruction with a novel arl rangement of a cord take-up in a mannerwhich necessitates a minimum of parts and which results in a functionaloperation not heretofore known. By positioning the cord take-upconcentric with the motor axis, about which the handle also pivots, andby having the motor casing as well as the cord take-up casing rotate andpivot with the handle, a compact and completely eflicient cleaner hasbeen produced.

Referring again to the drawings 'and to Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, inparticular, the rst preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed.A chassis, comprising a nozzle l with rearwardly and 'upwardly extendingpassageways 2, 2 at the sides indicated at l2, I2, etc., are provided ateach of the `ioints and appearance plates I3, I3 carried cover plate I6is provided in the opposite passageway 2 which gives 'ready access tothe driving belt positioned therein, as will be hereinafter set forth.

At the opposite end from the fan chamber I4 the motor-fan casing I isinteriorly provided with a'motor housing 20 which comprises the statorof the motor and which carries the field windings 2|. Housing 20isformed with an extended hub portion 22 which reaches to the inner sidewall of fan chamber .I4 for a purpose which ,will hereinafter becomeapparent. 'I'he outer side wall of motor `housing 20 is formed by theenclosing motor-fan casing I9 side wall II, the side wall and thehousing being secured together by removable screws 23, 23, etc. g

' The motor armature 25 is mounted uponfthe rotatable shaft 26 which issupported by bearings 21 and 28 located at the motor housing outerwallII and at the inner wall of the fan chamber- I4. Shaft 26 extendsthrough, and is housed by, the extended hub portion 22 of the motorcasing and within the fan chamber I4 it carries the suction-creating fan30. At its opposite end it extends through the supporting bearing 21into the adjacent passageway 2 where it carries a belt pulley 3| towhich is connected a belt 32. Belt 32 extends down the` passageway 2into the nozzle I where it rotates in a common and well known manner arotary agitator the lower surface-contacting elements of which can beseen in Figure 5. The agitator is indicated by the reference character33. Pulley 3| iS Opposite the removable cover I6 thereby permitting easyattachment and detachment of the belt.

Positioned axially at one end of the motor casing 20 and between thelatter and the fan chamber |4 is a cord reel 35 which is within theradial peripheral dimension of the motor casing 20 and is mounted forindependent rotation upon bearings 3I,r 36 carried by the extended hub22 of motor'casing 20. The cylindrical seat 31 of reel 35 is spaced at aconsiderable distance from the supporting hub 22 and encloses a coiledflat spring 40 the inner end of which is fixed to the hub 22, throughbeing inturned to seat within a slot 4| formed in that hub,y and theouter end of which is suitably fixed to the cylindrical seat 31. uponthe reel 35 which is clockwise when viewed from the motor end of thecasing I0.

One side wall of cord reel 35 includes a section 42 formed of suitableinsulation material such as Bakelite Inset in the outer surface v ofthis insulation are .concentric rings 43, I43 of current-conductingmaterial the terminals of which extend to the inside of the'reel wherethe leads 44, 44;:of the conductor 45 are attached. A third lead 41grounds the reel 35 and the cleaner. The conductor extends from theterminals through an opening 46 in the seat 31 to encircle that element.

Stationary wiper contacts 59. 50 are mounted upon the inside wall ofmotorcasing adjacent the cord reel, one for each of the conducting rings43 and suitable leads 5|, 5| convey the cur- The motor fan casing|0.additionally includes an exhaust outlet 55, a handle socket 56, and aslot or port 51 for the conductor 45. The usual suction cleaner handle58 removablyseats within the socket 56 where it is held by a screw 59,leads 5I, 5I extending upwardly therethrough to a manually operableswitch 6| so that the circuit through the/machine can be opened andclosed. The upper end of the handle supports a dust bag 63 which isremovably attached to the exhaust outlet 55 in a common and well knownmanner. a

'I'he upper end of the handle is also provided with a cord controllerwhich comprises two apposed spring-pressed eccentrics 66, 66 formed.with knurled lever portions 61, 61 which extend outwardly through thecontroller casing 65. The

`rent from the wiper contacts to the motor and to other parts of themachine.

conductor passes directly through the controller housing throughopenings 68, 68 whichare curved and rounded to prevent injury to theconductor surface. The conductor is of such width and the eccentrics 66,66 are so positioned that the spring action of the eccentrics tends toclamp the conductor therebetween. This clamping action is increased bythe downward pull exerted upon the conductor by the spring 40 whichtends frictionally to rotate the eccentrics. A pressure exerted upon thelevers 61, 61 forcing them together functions to rotate the eccentrics66, 66 in a direction to move them'away from the cord 45 and to permitthat element to be drawn toward the machine under the impetusimparted tothe'reelby the spring 40. The cord can continue to wind upon thereel 35,in the manner illustrated in Figure 3, until such time l as the plug 69at the outer end of the conductor contacts the controller housing 65.

The electrical circuit of the machine is perhaps best understood byreference to Figure 11 which comprises a diagrammatical illustrationthereof. The incoming leads 44, 44 of the conductor 45 are shownattached to the rotatable. a rings 43, 43 which are contacted by themotorcarried wiper contacts 50, 50. The handle switch 6| is in serieswith one of these contacts through the leads 5|, 5I extending throughthe handle thereto and back. The motor eld windings 2|. 2| and thearmature 25 are shown in the circuit and the switch 6| is seen tocontrol the flow of current through the eld windings and armature of themotor. r

The operation of the cleaner constructed in accordance with the presentembodiment of the invention is quite simple. With the plug 69 at theouter end of cord 45 attached to an outlet the machine is ready 'to beoperated. The conductor 45 has been drawn out to the necessary lengthwithout depressing the levers 61, 61 for the `frictional force exertedby the moving cord 45 pivots the eccentrics 66, 66V into non-clampingrelationship. With the plug connected the motor switch 6| is closed andcurrent passes to the motor in the manner described above in connectionwith the electrical circuit illustrated in Figure 11. In the cleaneroperation the angudar position of the handle 58 relative to the cleanerchassis will change and Ithis angular adjustment is accomplished by therotation of the motor-fan casing I0, together with the fan chamber I4and motor housing 20, about the axis of the casing pivots.

the motor which is concentric with the pivotal axis formed by thebearing plates 6, 6 upon which In'this pivotal movement of the handlethere is no relative rotation between the reel 35 and the motor or fanhousing, the entire structure pivoting as a unit.

Uponthe conclusion of the. cleaner operation it is desirable to storethe length of the cord. The plug 69 at the outer end of cord 45 isdisconnected and the operator compresses the levers 51, 31, immediatelythe coilspring 40 causes the reel 35 to rotate and the conductor 45ft0be drawn into the casing I and to wrap thereabout, in the mannerillustrated in Figure 3. The movementof the cord back and forth acrossthe reel is a natural result and is permitted without and 11 have beenprovided whichV are mounted adjacent the reel 35 and adjacent the end ofthe cord port 51 and which serve to guide the conductor 45 from thecentral position on the casing at which it enters the port to a positionadiacentthe center of the reel 35 so that it naturally winds back andforth thereon as the reel rotates.

The operation of this form of the invention is functionally theequivalent of that first described and the control means at the upperend of the handle is identical in both. embodihindrance by the elongatedopening 51 through l which the conductor enters the casing. The currentis conducted to the electrical circuit of the motor in all angularpositions of the reel as the wiper contacts 50, 50 at all times connectthe conductor 44, 44 to the motor leads.

Referring nowto Figures 8, 9, and 10, a second preferred embodiment ofthe present invention is disclosed. Functionally this embodiment is verysimilar to that first described but diiiers therefrom in the arrangementof the parts. According to this embodiment the fan chamber I4 ispositioned as in the first embodiment but the motor casing no longeruses an outer wall Il of the motor-fan casing l0 as a side wall; it hasinstead been shifted over to a point immediately adjacent .the fanchamber.

` The conductor take-up in this embodiment is positioned axially at oneend of the motor housing and within the radial peripheral dimension ofthe latter and not between the motor and the fan chamber as in the firstembodiment.

In this second embodiment the armature of the motor is again carried bythe motor shaft 26 which also supports the suction-creating fan in thefan chamber I4. The shaft itself is rotatably supported in the bearings12 and 13 which are carried by the side Wall 14 of the motor housing 20adjacent the fan chamber and by the elongated hub 22 at the oppositeside of the motor which in the pres-ent embodiment has fbeen enlarged indiameter to house the bearing 13. As in the iirst embodiment the end ofthe motor shaft 26 opposite the fan 30 carries the pulley 3| which seatsthe power-transmitting belt 32.

The cord..takeup constructed -in accordance with the second embodimentisquite similar to that of the first embodiment in that the reel isrotatably carried by sleeve bearings 36, 36.

upon the extended hub 22 of the motor casing, and in Athat theinsulation side 42 of the reel is again provided with the ring contactplates 43, 43 which contact the wiper contacts 50, 50 carried by themotor casing. The actuating spring of the reel, however, is in thisembodiment positioned at the side of the reel where its size is notrestricted by the internal diameter ofthe cylindrical seat 31. 'Ihespring is fixedly secured to the hub 22 as illustrated in Figure 4 inconnection with the rst embodiment, and is secured to the reel 35 by anenclosing flange 15 which is fixed Ato the reel and by which it isenclosed. Spring 40 performs the function in this embodiment, as in thefirst em'- bodiment, of rotating the reel to wind the cord conductorthereon.

Because of the oil-set relationship of the reel 35 With respect to thehandle, guide pulleys 16 vIneIltS.

I claim:

1. In asuction cleaner, an ambulatory chassis, a handle pivoted on said'chassis, a driving motor including a rotor and a stator, the rotationalaxis of said motor extending in the direction of the pivotal axis ofsaidhandle, a cord take-up comprislng a reel positioned at the side ofand with- 'in the peripheral dimensions of said motor and independentlyrotatable about said motor axis, means to rotate said reel, and a cordwound on said reel, electrically connected to said motor and extendedalong said handle.

2. In a suction cleaner, an ambulatory chassis, a handle pivoted onsaid*y chassis, a driving motor including a rotor and a stator, therotational axis of said motor extending in the direction of the pivotalaxis of said handle, a cord take-up comprising a reel positioned at theside of and within the peripheral dimensions of said motor andindependently rotatable about said motor axis, means to rotate saidreel, a cord wound on said reel, electrically connected to said motorand extended along said handle and manually operable means on saidhandle to control the winding of said cord on said reel.

3. In a suction cleaner, an ambulatory chassis, a handle pivoted on saidchassis, a driving motor including a rotor and a stator, the rotationalaxisof said motor extending in the direction of the pivotal axis of saidhandle, a cord take-up comprising a reel positioned at the side of andwithin the peripheral dimensions of said motor and independentlyrotatable about an axis ex- `tended in the direction of the pivotal axisof said handle, means tending at all times to rotate said reel in onedirection, a current-conducting cord connected to said motor andextended along said handle and Wound upon said reel, and manuallyoperable means to limit the movement of said cord under the windingimpetus of said reel.

4. In a suction cleaner, an ambulatory chassis, a handle pivoted on saidchassis, a driving motor including a rotor and a stator, the rotationalaxis of said motor extending in the direction of thepivotal axis of saidhandle, a cord take-up comprising a reel positioned at the side of andwithin the peripheral dimensions of said motor and independentlyrotatable about an axis extended in the direction of the pivotal axis ofsaid handle, means tending at all times to rotate said reel in onedirection, a current-conducting cord connected to said motor andextended along said handle and wound upon said reel,and manuallyacurrent-conducting cord wound upon said reel and electrically connectedto said motor.

6. In a suctioncleaner an ambulatory 'chassis including a nozzle, acasing rotatable upon said chassis, a handle connected to and rotatablewith said casing, a nozzle-connected fan chamber and a motor housing inand rotatable with said easing, a fan in said chamber, a motor connectedto said fan in said housing; a cord take-up within said casingindependently rotatable about theI axis of said casing and positionedaxially at one side of said motor housing, and a current-conducting cordconnected to and windable upon said reel, said cord being electricallyconnected to said motor.

7. In a suction cleaner an ambulatory chassis including a nozzle, acasing rotatable upon said chassis, a handle connected to and rotatablewith said casing, a nozzle-connected fan chamber and a motor housing inand rotatable with said casing, a fan in said chamber, a motor in saidhousing connected to said fan, a cord take-up within said casingindependently rotatable about the axis of said casing and positionedbetween said fan chamber and motor housing, and a currentconducting cordwound upon said reel and electrically connected in the circuit of saidmotor.

8. In a suction cleaner an ambulatory chassis including a nozzle, acasing rotatable upon said chassis, a handle connected to and rotatablewith said casing, a nozzle-connected fan chamber and a motor housing inand rotatable with said casing, a fan in said chamber, a motor in saidhousing connected to said fan, a cord-take-up within said casingindependently rotatable about the axis of said casing and positionedbetween said fan chamber and motor housing, a cord passageway in saidcasing near the connection of said handle thereto, a cord guide andcontrol on said handle, and a current-carrying cord extended throughsaid guide and control, through said passageway and onto said reel andinto electrical connection with said motor.

9. In a suction cleaner, an ambulatory chassis, a propelling handlepivoted on said chassis, a motor mounted on said chassis with its axisextended transversely of said handle, a cord take-up including arotatable reel positioned axially at the side of said motor, acurrent-conducting cord wound upon said reel, and relatively slidablecontacts upon said 'reel Vand said motor Ito connect said cordelectrically to said'motor in all rotational positions of said reel, andmeans to actuate and control said reel.

10. In a suction cleaner, an ambulatory chassis, a handle pivoted onsaid chassis, a motor mounted on said chassis with its axis extendedtransversely of said handle, a cord take-up including a rotatable reelpositioned axially at the side of said motor, cooperatingcurrent-conducting rings and wiper contacts on said reel and on saidmotor to conduct current therebetween, spring 'means within said reeltending to rotate it, a current conductor wound upon said reel andextended along said handle, and cord locking means on said handle.

11; In a suction cleaner, an ambulatory chassis,

. ducting cord carried by saidl take-up and conl Ki I) a casing carriedyby said chassis, a conductor take-up within said casing including a.reel rotatable about a transverse axis, a handle axially at one side oisaid reel, a conductor passageway slot adjacent said fhandle, pulleys toguide a conductor to a position adjacent said reel, and a conductorextended along said handle, over said pulleys and onto said reel. l

12. In a suction cleaner, an ambulatory chassis, a suction-creating unitincluding a motor carried by said chassis and rotatable relativethereto,` a'pivoted handle connected to said unit with its pivotal axiscoincidental with the axis of rotation of said unit, a cord take-uprotatable about the pivotal axis of said handle and positioned axiallyadjacent said motor, and a current-carrying cord carried by said take-upand connected to said motor.

13. In a suction cleaner, an ambulatory chassis, a suction-creating unitincluding a motor and a fan chamber carried by said chassis androtatable relative thereto, a pivoted handle con- Anected to said unitwith its pivotal axis coincidental with theaxis of rotation of saidunit, a cord take-up positioned between the motor and fan chamber, and acurrent-conducting cord carried by said take-up and connected to saidmotor.

14. In a suction cleaner, an ambulatory chassis, a suction-creating unitincluding a motor carried by said chassis, a casing enclosing said unitand rotatable relative to said chassis, a pivoted handle connected tosaid casing with vits pivotal axis coincidental to the axis of rotationof said' casing, a cord take-up Within said casing and axially adjacentsaid motor, and a current-connected to said motor.

l 15. In a suction cleaner, an ambulatory chassis, a suction-creatingunit including a motor carried by said chassis and rotatable relativethereto, a' pivoted handle connected to said unit with its pivotal axiscoincidental with the axis of rotation of said unit, a cord take-upaxially at the side of said motor including a cord-seating reelrotatable about the saidaxis and a spiral actuating spring at the sidethereof, and a currentcarrying cord carried by said take-up and conenected to said motor.

16. In a suction cleaner, an ambulatory chassis, a suction-creating unitincluding a motor carried by said chassis and rotatable relativethereto, a pivoted handle connected to said unit with its pivotal axiscoincidental with the axis of rotation of said unit, a cord take-upaxially at the side of said motor including a cord-seating reelrotatable about the said axis and a spiral spring within said'reel, anda current-carrying cord carried by said take-up and connected to saidmotor. A

17. In a suction cleaner, an ambulatory body, a motor mounted on saidbody, a cord reel rotatably supported on said body and Within the radialperipheral dimensions of said motor, and a current-conducting cord woundupon said reel and electrically connected to said motor.

18. In a suction cleaner, an ambulatory body,

y a fan chamber in said body, a motor mounted on mOtOI'. l

DONALD G. SMELLIE.

